Key container



D. HENDRIX KEY CONTAINER Jan. 22, 1946.

Filed April 3, 1944 Inllrnnl FIRE FIG.

V1 l i u-'f IE INVENToR. .DEM/Ey, HE/voR/x BY y da -rfx Pianta im'. 22.1946

UNITED.:fs'ra'ras PATENT 'OFFICE KEY comme. Dewey Hendrix, Akron, Ohio l Application April 3, 1944, Sellll N0. 529,253

(Cl. 'l0-456) 10 Claims.

This invention relates to an improved type of key container. More particularly, it relates to a key containerfrom which the keys are ejected and made ready for use by merelyv pressing a button. It includes the combination of a flashlight witha key container, so arranged that the flashlight is lighted as the keys are made ready for use.

There are many types of key containers on the market. With almost no exception, these containers are constructed in such a. way that the owner is expected to employ both hands in opening the container, removing a key, and readying it for use. This is many times objectionable as, for` example, where the owner returnshome laden with packages or the like which must be set down to free both hands to unlocky the door. a

'Ihe ideal key container is one which is easily and quickly operated with one hand. 'The container of this invention is of that type. l The keys are ejected from the holder and made'ready for use by the action of a spring which is released by pressure on a button. In a preferred form of the invention the keys, in springing from the container, close the circuit of a -flashlight battery which throws a spot on 'the keyhole into which a key is about to be inserted. j

The invention will be described in greater deltail in connection with the accompanying drawing, inwhich Fig. l is a side lview of the key container with the keys extended, Fig. 2 is a section on the line 2-2 of Fig. l, Fig. 3 is a side view of the container with the keys retracted into it, Fig. '4 is a side view of a double container, Fig. is an end viewof the slide which holds the keys,

' Fig. 6 is a side view of a combination flashlight and key container. Fig. 7 is a section on the line of Fig. 6, and Figs. 8. and 9 are a plan and section of the releasing mechanism of Figs. 1-3 on an enlarged scale.

The key container is preferably made of a plastic material which maybe transparent and may or may not be colored. It may be made of metal, etc., if preferred. It is composed essentially of an outer case I and a slide 2, shown separately in Fig. 5, which holds the keys, and slides in the outer case in such a way as'to eject the keys for use and retract them back into the container. The keys are advantageously supported fon the sleeve 3, which may be oi' metal. The sleeve is preferably threaded at each end to receive buttons 4,: which are provided with the shoulders la which fit into the slide ropenings 5 on the two sides of thecase I. The shoulders la thus limit' the movement of the slide.

'I'he slide is held in the case by the latch or dog 6, which fits over the sliding catch I and holds the slide! in the case I against. the action of the spring 8. When the catch 1 is pressed in, the spring is released, the slide 2 springs up in the container, and the keys 9 are ejected from the top of the container and are ready for use. The top corners of the container I are rounded at I0, and the side of the container is cut down to the line Il so that the keys may be moved through an angle of 180 from one side of the top of the container to the other. The edge Il serves as a stop to prevent the keys from falling any fartherthan to a position about perpendicular to the general body of the container. When the owner is through using the-keys, the simplest way of retracting them into the case is by placing a thumb on one of the buttons 4 and drawing the slide down with the thumb until the beveled top of the latch 6 pushes the slide back, and it snaps back to hold the latch and keep the slide 2 in place.

The latch i may have an enlarged base 6a which is embedded in the slide 2.

, in diameter than In the drawing the cylinder I3 and spring I5 act to hold the latch 6 and the slide 2 toy which it is fastened against the action of the spring 8 i and to release them as desired. The catch 1, which coacts with the latch 8, is a part of the cylinder I3. This cylinder I3 slides within the outer cylinder I4. Both cylinders are` preferably made of metal. They are both cut away at the opening I6 to permit the latch 8 lto enter them and be retained by the catch 1. The burr I1 on the inner cylinder prevents it from being ejected from the outer cylinder by the spring i5. The two cylinders are assembled before the ends of the inner cylinder are closed.

The cylinder I4 is held in place in any suitable manner, as by an adhesive or bymolding the button I8 to release the latch and permit the keys to be ejected from the case. The depression I9 in the case permits greater freedom of movement of the release button i8.

The cylindrical compartment at the bottom of the container is separated from the rest of the outer case'by the partition 20. The cylinder 2l erected on the partition 20 is somewhat smaller the cylindrical opening 22 in the slide 2 andilts within it with enough space -to s'pare around its circumference to comfortably 2 2,898,878 v hold the spring 8. The cylinder 2i `keeps the on each'side thereof so that the lamp socket 38 e spring 8 in position when the slide is extended as lslides between the two raised portions, regardless in Fig. l and provides a support around which the or whether it is positioned on the conducting por- Sprins 8 is coiled within they Opening 22 when the tion 41'or a-nonconducting' portion.- The-wall loi.' slide is retracted in the case, as shown in Fig. 3. 5 the case may be indented at the-switch 45, or (as 4 shows a double container, each side of shown) may. be raised around the protruding which operates in the same manner as the indiends oi' the switch to preventunintentional movevidual container illustrated in Figs. 1-3. It comment of the switch.

prises the two halves 25 and 25, each of which The battery 38 is held against the switch 45 includes a slide and spring with latch-releasing i vby the spring '50. 'Ihe bottom end of the flash-l means of a type identical with that Previously lightcontainer is provided with a circular threaddescribed. This enables one to carry twice the led cap 5| against which the spring Il presses. number or keys that can be accommodated ln a This rcap may be lremoved for replacement of single container. Each side of the container may the battery as required. The switch may easily hold three or four keys, more or less, the number be assembled by insertion through the openings being variable. If a container is used to hold. 48 when th'e flashlight and spring are removed.

fewer than the maximum number of vkeys it can 1tje te be ,understood that the design and conaccommodate, washers may be placed on the' struction. of the eontemer and battery may be sleeve to hold the keys upright. altered without avoiding the appended claims It is a great convenience to have a spotlight which deiine the invention. e directed on a keyhole at night, andthe combi- What, I claim is: nation ashlight and keycontainer shown in f 1. A key container which comprises anouter Fig. 6 provides for such a spot directedv on the container 'with slideopenings on each side therekeyhole as the key is about to be inserted. The of, a sliding portion on which the keys are slide 2' is `of the type already described, and the es mounted adapted to slide therein with buttons latch B' operatesin the manner already described. on eachside of the sliding portionwith collars The key container and spring-held releasing thereon adapted to vslide in said slide openings. means in Fig- 6 are thrcushout 0f the type de-v a spring in the outer container acting against scribed, except lthat a plate of copper 38 or other the slide with means for movably locking the conducting metal is provided over the side of the so slide in the container with the spring compressed. slide 2 adjacent the ilashlight. As the slide 2 is 2. A container with flashlight and a slide released and the keys 9' are ejected for use. the therein, 'the snae being adapted to hold the keys slide 'makes an electrical contact between the and carry them to the operating position, elecpoints 3i and 32, completing the electrical circuit trical conducting means on the slide, and conwhich' lights the shlight. The Points 3| and '85 tacts for operating the battery in a position to be 32 areconnected to a spring of conducting matei contacted by said conducting means when slidrial, as shown. 'I'he contact point 34 connected ing` the keys to operating position. by a spring to the contact point 3i presses against 3. A combination key container and ilashlight the metal cover 35 of the ilashlight battery 38.` battery in which the keys are mounted on a slide The contact point 31 connected by a spring to 40 to one edge of which an electrical conductor is the contact point 32 presses against the conductl attached, a flashlight battery and socket for a ing socket 38 of the ilashllght bulb 39 which is lamp, a contact connected electrically .with the threaded into the support 40. battery and another contact connected with the Now, as the button I8' is pressed, the slide 2' socket,said contacts being arranged so that the is thrown upward by the spring, presenting the d5 conductor on the slide connects both when the keys' 8', ready for use. As the slide 2' moves keys are moved to operating position and so thatl Y upward, the contact bar 30 closes the circuit be. the contact is broken when the slide is retracted. tween the contact points 3i and 3 2. and the ilash- 4. A iiashlight and key container combination light bulb is lighted. 'I'he lightis directed toward which comprises a battery, a socket for a lamp the keyhole, and this aids the owner materially. so to be operated by the battery,a slide vto, hold the After the door .has been unlocked, the keys 8' are keys. conducting means on the slide with conreturned to the container as above described by tact points connected with the battery and socket, pulling on the button 4' with the thumb. and in respectively, adapted to be closed by the condoing so, the electrical contact is broken, and the ducting means when the keys are slid to the oplight is extinguished. I 55 erating position, and between the socket and bat- It is not always desirable to have'the lamp 38 tery a switch, one operating portion of which is light up, as when the container is` used in `broad a conductor for electricity and another operating daylight. Therefore, a sliding switch 45, shown portion of which is a nonconductor of electricity. indetail in Fig. '1, may be provided between the 5. A combination key container and ashlight,

socket 38 of the flashlight bulb and the battery so which latter includes a battery and lamp and 38 although this switch may be omitted. The switch for operating the same, a slide adapted switch operates through the opening 48 in the to hold keys 'with means for holding it in the wall of the container. It is composed of nonconcontainer against the action of a spring and reducting Vmaterial with a conducting portion 41 leasing it to slide .to an operating position, the

(Fig. '1) If the switch is pushed into the battery e5 switch being operated bythe slide as it is moved so that the conducting portion 41 comes between by the spring from the one position to the other. the socket 38 and the battery 36, the bulb will 6. A key container which comprises an outer light when the bar 381 contacts the points 3| and container with slide openings on'each side there- 32. If, on the other hand, the switch 45 Yis loof, a slide in the outer container with a support cated so that a nonconducting portion comes be- 7o for the keys extending from one side ot the slide tween the lamp and the battery, the lamp will to the other adapted .to hold one or more keys not light. The stops 48 limit the longitudinal with their tangs outward, `the ends of the supmovementl of the slide, port passing through the side walls o! the sup- In order to guide the slide switch 45, it is prefport and extending into the `slide openings, a

erably manufactured with a raised portion 48 '1| spring in the outer container acting against the slide, means for locking the slide in the container with the spring compressed, and means for releasing the lock.

'7. A key container composed of an outer case and a slide adapted for longitudinal movement therein, the slide being adapted to hold a number of keys with their tangs outward, the edges of the outer case and of the slide being cut away so that with the slide in the extended position the keys may be swung in the cut-away portion of the case and slide to be at right angles to the longitudinal direction of the container, a spring in the outer case pressing against the slide, a locking device for holding the slide against the action of the spring, and means for releasing the locking device so that the spring will push the sliding portion outwardly to said extended position.

8. A key container composed of an outer case and a slide adapted for longitudinal movement therein, a slide opening in each of the side walls of the outer case and running longitudinally thereof, a key support passing from one side of the slide to the other adapted to hold the keys with their tangs outward, the ends of the support passing through the walls of the slide and into the slide openings, a spring in the case acting on the slide to push it the length of the slide openings, concentric cylinders in the bottom of the outer case with registered openings in the cylindrical walls thereof, a dog on the bottom of vthe slide adapted to pass through said openings when the slide is retracted against the spring,

and a second spring pressing against the inner cylinder to hold said openings out of register, one end of the inner cylinder being exposed so as to be pressed against the action of the spring to bring the openings into register so as to release the dog and thereby allow the first-mentioned spring to .push the slide.

9. A key container which comprises a. compartment, a slide and spring within the compartment, the slide being adapted to move within the compartment both with and against the action of the spring, the slide holding a bar for stringing one or more keys, one end of the bar extending through a wall of the compartment to' facilitate manual movement o! the slide against the kiction of the spring, means for locking the slide with the spring compressed, and means for releasing the slide.

10. In combination a iiashlight and a key container, in the container a slide for keys which is adapted to be slid'outward to bring the keys into operative position and to withdraw them into the container out of operative position, in the circuito! the iiashlight a switch adapted to lbe closed as the slide is moved to operative position and opened as the slide is withdrawn into the container, and a second switch in the circuit adapted for manual operation for closing the circuit when the container is to be used in the dark and opening the circuit when the container is to be used in the light.

DEWEY HENDRIX. 

